48 PLANTS OF BERMUDA. 



Nat : Ord : 42. Primulaeea. • 



Herbaceous plants ; leaves usually opposite or whorled, without 

 stipules ; flowers regular ; calyx persistent, inferior, usually five- 

 partite ; corolla, inserted under ovary, five-cleft ; stamens five, in- 

 serted on corolla, opposite to its lobes ; ovary superior, one-celled ; 

 style and stigma simple ; capsule many -seeded, opening crosswise 

 or by valves. 



Varieties of the Chinese Primrose {Primula Sinensis) may be met 

 with in gardens occasionally. 



^ I. AXAOALLIS. 



Capsule globose^ opening crosstvise when ripe. 



1. A. arvcnsis (Pimpernel). An annual, procumbent plant ; stems 

 slender, square, six to twelve inches long, much branched ; leaves 

 opposite, ovate, dotted beneath ; flower- stalks axillary, longer than 

 the leaves, bent downwards in fruit ; calyx five-partite, keeled ; 

 corolla rotate, deeply five-partite ; capsule membranous, as above. 

 Distribution, Europe and United States ; habitat, waysides and 

 cultivated ground, common. Flowers about one-third of an inch, 

 scarlet, closing on approach of rain, and hence called Shepherd's 

 weather-glass ; January to June. 



Nat : Ord : 43. Oentianacece. 



Herbaceous plants, with ribbed, entire, opposite leaves, without 

 stipules. Flowers regular ; calyx inferior, persistent, usually five- 

 lobed ; corolla four to five lobed ; 'stamens inserted on corolla" equal 

 in number to its lobes and alternate with them; ovary superior, 

 one-celled, many-seeded; style simple, stigma two-lobed; fruit a 

 many-seeded, two-valved capsule. 



I. ERYTHR(EA. 



1. E. cmtaurium (Centaury). An annual, erect herb, foiu' to 

 twelve inches high ; stem simple at base, but branching in threes 

 above, four-angular ; leaves sessile in pairs, ovate, oblong, quite 

 entire, half-inch long and half as wide. Flowers long, slender, in 

 loose terminal cymes ; calyx five-parted, angular ; corolla-tube 

 twice the length of calyx, limb small, spreading, with five oblong, 

 acute segments ; stamens twisted, protruding from naked throat of 

 corolla ; stigma roundish ; capsule slender, acute, opening length- 

 wise ; seeds minute, numerous. Distribution, Europe (America, 

 rare) ; habitat, waysides and barren rocky hills, very common. 

 Flowers rose colour ; February to June. 



Nat : Ord : 44. Apocynaccct. 



Herbs or shrubs with a milky juice, and entire, usually opposite, 

 leaves without stipules. Flowers regular, five-parted, solitary or in 

 cymes ; calyx persistent ; corolla deciduous, the five-parted limb 



